TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's education ministry acknowledges that it cannot effectively ban TikTok, despite growing concerns about the platform's harmful content targeting children. Deputy Education Minister Liu Kuo-wei (劉國偉) made the admission on Thursday (Nov. 20) during hearings at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, on protecting students from dangerous online platforms.
Taiwan's main opposition party legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) challenged the ministry's limited authority. Students continue accessing these platforms through unlimited mobile data plans. Liu acknowledged that the Ministry of Education controls only academic networks and cannot restrict access to other internet points.
Amnesty International research reveals TikTok's algorithm directs teenagers to content glamorizing depression and self-harm. Similar content appears on Xiaohongshu (小紅書), China's Instagram-like platform, as well as on other short-video platforms. NewsGuard found 19.4% misinformation in TikTok searches while digital safety experts warn of self-harm videos targeting weight-loss users.
International governments have imposed strict measures to mitigate the risks associated with TikTok. India banned TikTok in 2020, while Britain and Ireland fined the platform in 2023 for violating child data protection laws. Liu outlined Taiwan's dual strategy: restricting inappropriate content on academic networks and enhancing media literacy through teacher training programs.
